During our routine work at the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) laboratories, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1/2 antibody false-positive results were observed among Coronavirus disease-2019 convalescent plasma (CP) donors more frequently than healthy donors. We aimed to determine anti-HIV 1/2 antibody false-positivity rates among the CP donors and healthy blood donors. Methods:The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study which was a type of observational study. Total 3689 donations from 2593 donors donated CP to the TRC between 11 April-06 July 2020, were screened by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for the presence of antibody against HIV ½. The confirmation tests were performed with line immunoassay. All of the donors were non-remunerated CP donors between the ages of 18-60. For the control group, 411078 donations from 407363 healthy blood donors were received on the same days.Results: Repeated reactivity rates (1.87%) were significantly higher than the control group (0.13%, p<0.05). However, there was not a statistically significant difference between the confirmed reactivity rates of the study group (0.03%) and the control group (0.01%, p=0.217). Conclusion:In our study, it was determined that the false-positive results obtained from serologic HIV screening tests of CP donors were significantly higher when compared to the healthy blood donors.
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several extrahepatic syndromes. The principal types of renal disorders associated with chronic HCV infection are cryoglobulinemia or noncryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) may precipitate or exacerbate the occurrence of MPGN. Our patient was a 32-year-old man who tested positive for HCV in July 1997. The patient was treated with IFN-alpha in another medical center for 6 months because his liver biopsy showed chronic active hepatitis. In December 1998, he applied to our clinic for a follow-up examination. The level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was 44 U/L, and that of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 69 U/L. HCV RNA was positive in serum, and chronic HCV infection was detected by liver biopsy. IFN-alpha therapy (5 million U/day) was administered for 6 months longer. In May 1999, the patient came to our polyclinic with edema of the feet and legs. We detected proteinuria, serum cholesterol of 269 mg/dl, AST of 50 U/L, ALT of 41 U/L, serum total protein of 3.4 g/dl, serum albumin of 1.2 g/dl, positive cryoglobulin, and urine protein of 9.84 g/day. Cryoglobulinemic MPGN was suspected and kidney biopsy was performed, resulting in a diagnosis of minimal change disease (MCD).
Background: Brucellosisis one of the important health problems for both humans and animals in Turkey since agriculture and stock raising appears to be the most important means of subsistence. Investigations on the pathogenesis of brucellosis reveal that the etiologic agent can survive in phagocytic cells, and cell-mediated immunity plays an important role in immunity against bacteria. Methods: In this study, we investigated whether supplementation of levamisole, a well-known antihelminthic agent with immune-stimulating activity to conventional antibiotic therapy, would improve the anergy against Brucella. Results: The results of our study reveal that a 6-week course of levamisole as a supplement to conventional antibiotic therapy in chronic brucellosis is not superior to conventional antibiotic treatment alone with respect to lymphocyte subgroup ratios and phagocytic function. Conclusion: In chronic brucellosis, levamisole administered as a supplement concomitantly with conventional antibiotic therapy has no immunostimulating effect on the basis of the lymphocyte subgroups ratios measured and the ability of phagocytosis in the present study. Further large clinical and laboratory trials are necessary to investigate the immunological and physiological effects of levamisole on TH1 subtypes and cytokine secretion.
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